Today, October 7th, is a somber reminder that being the Chosen People has never been a life of rainbows and unicorns, but persecutions and testing in addition to experiencing God’s favor, leading to the Messiah who also would suffer. Continuing our look at My People/Not My People…
In the Covenant’s aftermath, the seeds of antisemitism have been sown. Forever. Because the Covenant is forever and as long as Not My People continue to live among My People, there will be animosity, hatred, and persecution. Being set apart as My People doesn’t give you a Get of Jail Free card as a monopoly on God’s favor or an easy life.
In fact, being set apart as My People comes with unique tests and trials and judgments to keep behavior in check, to keep the Messianic line pure, and to live righteously as is fitting for God’s people who are a testimony to the light (Isaiah 42:6).
Abraham was tested with an awful test (Genesis 22): sacrifice the child of promise and in doing so, all the My People who come from you and Sarah are finished. Only Isaac’s line is My People and sacrificing him would end the line and put God’s covenant in jeopardy. Why would God ask such a thing?
To be fair, Abraham’s culture performed child sacrifice all the time as religious ritual, so that wouldn’t have presented as horror to him as it does to us. The test was one of allegiance, did Abraham love God more than Isaac, the boy, his son, my son (as Scripture repeats over and again in the story from Genesis 22)? Was he willing to obey when every earthly instinct of familial love said, “No, please Lord, not this one”? The fact that God specified “Take your son, your only son, whom you love– Isaac” meant that he couldn’t do a switcheroo with Ishmael instead and still be faithful.
Questions for further thought:
Four times in Romans 4, and once each in Galatians 3:6 and James 2:23, Scripture reminds us that this event in which Abraham believed God was “credited to him as righteousness.” What does it mean, “credited to him as righteousness”?
Abraham’s culture performed a great deal of child sacrifice, and we find that abhorrent. How does child sacrifice differ from abortion that many consider to be no problem, even late term?
What obstacles to Abraham’s faithfulness existed? Is there any indication he consulted Sarah? See Genesis 22. By this time, Isaac wasn’t a baby or a toddler, but old enough to understand animal sacrifice, speak full sentences, and carry a heavy stack of wood on his back. God only knows the conversation and confrontation in the binding of Isaac. Why do you think Scripture doesn’t record that?